On 15 October, State Language Day, the annual “Latvian Media Language Award” campaign is being launched. It will identify, assess and honour presenters and other content creators working in electronic media who use correct and rich Latvian, as well as periodical publications and online news portals that demonstrate high-quality use of the Latvian language.
The organisers of the campaign, the State Language Centre (VVC) and the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), are pleased with the results achieved last year. A total of 130 participants were nominated, of whom 13 became award winners and nine received certificates of commendation. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Brigita Skaistkalne, a proofreader at the newspaper “Alūksnes un Malienas Ziņas”, while the joint Audience Choice Award of the organisers and partners went to journalist and report author Ieva Vārna.
Ilva Milzarāja, a member of NEPLP responsible for strengthening the Latvian language in the media, says: “The Latvian Media Language Award has grown from a fine idea into an important tradition for the media sector. For the fourth year, it reminds us that language is not merely a tool used in media work; it is also a measure of professional quality and respect for the audience. Latvian is alive wherever content is created: on television, on radio, in periodicals, in the digital environment and, increasingly, in podcasts. Therefore, as the award evolves alongside the media environment, this year we also invite nominations for podcast creators.”
Arturs Krastiņš, Deputy Director of VVC, adds: “Amid the demands of everyday work, media professionals may have little time to reflect on their own contribution, or that of their closest colleagues, to improving the language used in the media. The Latvian Media Language Award is an opportunity to highlight those who help ensure that clear and high-quality Latvian is used in the media, as well as those whose work inspires others to strive for excellence in both speech and writing.”
Any media user — reader, listener or viewer — as well as media professionals themselves may nominate candidates for the award. At the conclusion of the campaign, no more than one award winner and one recipient of a certificate of commendation will be selected in each of the following categories and subcategories:
Television and on-demand audiovisual services: news presenters; presenters of analytical and investigative programmes; presenters of discussion and interview programmes; journalists and report authors; voice-over artists.
Radio and podcasts: news presenters; presenters of analytical and investigative programmes; presenters of discussion and interview programmes; journalists and report authors; voice-over artists.
Television, radio, on-demand audiovisual services and podcasts: presenters of sports, culture and entertainment programmes.
Newspapers and magazines: national newspapers; regional newspapers; magazines, including online publications; specialised publications, including online publications; online news portals.
Television, radio, on-demand audiovisual services, podcasts, newspapers and magazines: journalism for children and young people; regional journalism in Latgale; lifetime achievement; debut of the year; proofreaders; literary editors; authors of articles or report scripts; plain language; diaspora media; professional vocabulary and terminology.
Nominations are invited until 24 November of this year and may be submitted by completing the online form available on the VVC and NEPLP websites.
At the campaign’s closing event, the award winners will receive prizes, badges, diplomas and quality marks, while the recipients of commendations will receive certificates of commendation. The award winners will be entitled to display a quality mark confirming the award received on the cover of their publication, on an online news portal, in a podcast, television or radio programme, or on a platform providing on-demand audiovisual services. The cooperation partners will be entitled to grant one Audience Choice Award to one participant in the campaign.
The “Latvian Media Language Award” is supported by a broad range of cooperation partners: the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, the Public Electronic Mass Media Council, the Latvian Language Agency, the National Library of Latvia, Tilde Ltd and LU Open Minded Ltd, the Latvian Broadcasting Association, the Latvian Press Publishers Association, the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Latvia, and the Museum of Literature and Music. To jointly enhance the value of the campaign, continue strengthening its tradition and broaden its reach, the organisers invite new partners to join the campaign’s cooperation memorandum.
The application form, campaign regulations and further information in Latvian are available on the VVC website and the NEPLP website.